Green declares state of emergency, positions resources ahead of Hurricane Lowell, Covid cases rise again, NOAA offers $20k reward in bludgeoning death of endangered monk seal, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Gov. Green declares State of Emergency, pre-positions resources ahead of Tropical Cyclones. Gov. Josh Green signed a statewide emergency proclamation ahead of three hurricanes encroaching on the island chain this weekend. Star-Advertiser. Maui Now.  Hawaii News Now. 

Hurricane Lowell weakens to Category 3, shifts west of Kauai. Hurricane Lowell track shifts slightly west, but major surge, rain and wind impacts still possible. It is still forecast to be at or near major hurricane strength when making its closest approach to the islands Monday. At 11 p.m. Thursday, Lowell had maximum sustained winds had weakened slightly to near 130 miles per hour. It was about 595 miles south of Lihue, or 555 miles south-southwest of Honolulu, and was moving to the west at 9 miles per hour. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

Hurricane Lowell’s expected turn resembles paths of Iniki, Dot. The only two hurricanes to make direct landfall in Hawaii in modern history both made sharp turns before crossing over Kauai — a similar turn forecasters and emergency officials are watching closely as Hurricane Lowell moves south of the islands. Star-Advertiser. KHON2. 

Hawaii’s COVID positivity rates are rising again. The average positivity rates for COVID-19 are ticking up in Hawaii once again after a nearly year-long lull. On Wednesday, the Hawaii Department of Health reported an average positivity rate of 9.0% statewide, with a weekly average of 18 cases per day. Star-Advertiser.

Federal Native Hawaiian education funding awarded. The U.S. Department of Education has awarded $29.7 million to Hawaii providers serving Native Hawaiian children and families, with the funds expected to be distributed by today, following an agreement to extend federal funding for the Native Hawaiian Education Program for another year. Star-Advertiser.

Trump Administration Aims To Strip Tax Status Of Private Schools With DEI Policies. Kamehameha and other Hawaiʻi schools are tracking the proposal, which would remove the tax-exempt status of private schools and colleges that provide scholarships or admission benefits to students based on their race. Civil Beat.

ʻUlu On The Up: Hawaiʻi Breadfruit Production Keeps Booming. This year’s stormy weather might drive a dip in production. But if longer-term forecasts are accurate, breadfruit could get closer to resuming its status as a Hawaiian staple. Civil Beat.

Oahu

H-POWER was closed for more than 80 days last year. The H-POWER facility on Oʻahu helps divert waste from the near-capacity Waimānalo Gulch Sanitary Landfill, but during the last fiscal year it was out of service for more than 80 days. Honolulu officials estimate that 200,000 tons of waste went to the landfill instead of being burned at H-POWER. Hawaii Public Radio.

OHA, city begin talks on future use of Kakaako Makai site. The former J.K.K. Look Laboratory building is a familiar sight on the Point Panic side of the entrance to Kewalo Basin in Kakaako. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs says it is in exploratory discussions with the City and County of Honolulu on possible future purposes for the site. Hawaii News Now.

City reopens Central Oahu park used as temporary Kona low debris site. Patsy T. Mink Central Oʻahu Regional Park fully reopened to the public Thursday after restoration work was completed following its use as a temporary debris site in the wake of the Kona low storms. Hawaii News Now.

Storms Shut Down Elevators Indefinitely For Hundreds In Honolulu. This year’s storms have been disastrous for some Oʻahu residents immobilized by their building’s broken elevators. Restoration could take weeks or months.  Civil Beat.

Man arrested after HPD shuts University Ave. gambling room. According to HPD, on Wednesday, at around 6 p.m., the department’s Narcotics/Vice Division Gambling Detail executed a search warrant on the property, recovering 10 gaming machines, more than $3,000 in cash and drug paraphernalia. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Sewer Rate Hike? Big Island Wastewater System Is Millions In Debt. The County Council is weighing a bill that would more than double the rates over the next five years. Civil Beat. Hawaii Public Radio. 

Kona earthquake gets federal disaster declaration. Gov. Josh Green announced Thursday that President Donald Trump has approved his request for a major disaster declaration following the magnitude 6.0 earthquake that struck the Kona area on May 22. Tribune-Herald.

About 60 customers still lack water in Ka‘u in wake of Lala. The Hawaii County Department of Water Supply is continuing to assess and repair damage to the water system infrastructure in the Na‘alehu-Wai‘ohinu area caused by the catastrophic rainfall and flooding last month from Hurricane Lala. Tribune-Herald.

‘Double Death’: Grief Revived Amid Search For Bones From Nāʻālehu Graves. A community devastated by Hurricane Lala now faces the gruesome and heart-wrenching task of identifying their deceased loved ones and burying them all over again.  Civil Beat.

Maui

Maui Council panel votes 5-4 to adopt sea-level-rise criteria for apartment rezoning in new hotel districts. The Maui County Council’s Housing and Land Use Committee voted 5-4 last week to adopt criteria for which apartment-zoned vacation rental properties can be recommended to the Maui Planning Commission for hotel-district rezoning, tying eligibility to how deeply a property sits within the county’s Sea Level Rise Exposure Area. Maui Now.

Mayor Bissen urges USPS to preserve home mail delivery for Lahaina residents rebuilding after wildfire. In a letter sent Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026, to US Postmaster General David Steiner, Mayor Richard Bissen said his most urgent concern is that residents returning to rebuilt homes may no longer receive the direct mail delivery they had before the fire and instead could be required to use centralized or cluster mailboxes. Maui Now.

NOAA offers up to $20,000 reward for info in death of Hawaiian monk seal. Federal wildlife authorities are asking for the public's help in finding the individual or individuals responsible for the death of an endangered Hawaiian monk seal whose body was discovered last month on a Molokai beach. According to NOAA, the investigation into the death of Hawaiian monk seal RU68 determined the 1-year-old female died from blunt force trauma to the head, likely sometime on Aug. 17 or 18.  Maui News. KHON2. 

Kauai

Kauai braces for possible impacts from Hurricane Lowell. Lowell, a Category 4 cyclone passing far south of the islands, is expected to weaken as it encounters southwesterly shear, but will still be at or near major hurricane strength when it approaches the westernmost main Hawaiian islands late Monday and Tuesday, according to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Star-Advertiser. Garden Island. 

Legislature seeks to ban more sunscreen ingredients, Aila confirmation moves forward, Honolulu backs off rail plan, Willie K says cancer is terminal, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

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Proposal tightens rules on sunscreen ingredients. Stricter rules are being proposed for what goes into sunscreen. On January 30, Hawaii lawmakers announced plans to ban more than a dozen additional chemicals that the FDA deems unsafe to humans. KHON2.

Bill would ban harmful sunscreens. Hawaii legislators Thursday announced the introduction of bills that restrict the sale of sunscreens with anything other than those deemed safe for coral reefs as well as human health in the state. Star-Advertiser.

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In a 3-2 vote, the Senate Hawaiian Affairs Committee recommended the full chamber approve Gov. David Ige’s nominations to lead the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. William Aila, the acting director of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands since May, secured a recommendation from a key senate panel Thursday to make his position permanent. Civil Beat.

Lawmakers Consider Red Light Photo Enforcement Pilot Program. The latest proposal involving a red light photo program in Hawaiʻi, will get a hearing before the House Committee on Transportation on Friday. Maui Now.

‘It’s not just a Kona problem’: Another year, another fight over coffee-labeling law. The latest effort to change labeling requirements for Hawaiian-grown coffee blends is making its way through the state Legislature. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii Looks To The Philippines For Its Newest Teacher Recruits. In an effort to plug the teacher shortage, the Hawaii Department of Education sent two officials to Manila on its first-ever international recruiting effort. Civil Beat.

Hawaii saw more than 10M visitors last year, but not everyone is celebrating. For the first time in 2019, Hawaii saw more than 10 million visitors to its shores ― a widely-expected milestone that’s drawn concerns about over-tourism. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaiian Airlines posts earnings jump while keeping eye on China virus. Hawaiian Airlines’ earnings soared 57.2% in the fourth quarter despite increased capacity that included additional competition from newcomer Southwest Airlines. Star-Advertiser.

Property sales catapult American Savings’ earnings 30%. The state’s third-largest bank, a subsidiary of Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc., reported today that its net income increased to $28.2 million from $21.8 million in the year-earlier quarter. Star-Advertiser.

Performer Willie K shares that his lung cancer is now terminal. The multi-Na Hoku award winner has been battling lung cancer but has continued to perform on a limited basis. KHON2.

Oahu

Mayor Caldwell warns of another rail delay. Mayor Kirk Caldwell says the city is “not yet confident” the first 11-mile segment of the Honolulu rail line will open at the end of this year, and told the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation that it should stop promising the public that rail will open even earlier. Star-Advertiser.

Feds: HART Shouldn’t Promise To Have Rail Ready In October. Rail’s federal partners in Washington aren’t confident “at all” that the trains will be ready to run in October for interim service and they want local rail officials to “step back” from that promise, according to the city’s top leadership. Civil Beat.

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Councilman Ron Menor opts out of mayoral race. Honolulu City Councilman Ron Menor said Thursday that he has decided not to run for Honolulu mayor this fall after all. Star-Advertiser.

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Crowds lined the streets to honor fallen Honolulu police officer Tiffany Enriquez. Fallen Honolulu police officer Tiffany-­Victoria B. Enriquez, Hawaii’s first female police officer to be killed in the line of duty, was remembered Thursday as a warm person with an infectious smile that brought people together. Star-Advertiser.

Moving service, ‘final roll call’ honor fallen Officer Tiffany Enriquez. After a moving service in which she was remembered as someone who always put others before herself ― until the very end ― fallen Officer Tiffany Enriquez was honored Thursday with a poignant procession and “final roll call" fronting HPD headquarters. Hawaii News Now.

SLIDESHOW: Emotions Run High At Memorial Service For Slain HPD Officer. Tiffany Enriquez, shot to death on Jan. 19 while responding to a call in the Diamond Head area, was honored by law enforcement, family and friends Thursday. Civil Beat.

Touching tribute for fallen HPD officer Tiffany Enriquez. She was a role model, a loving mother, and a hero. That’s how family and friends are remembering Honolulu Police Officer Tiffany Enriquez at her funeral service. KHON2.

Date set for memorial services of fallen HPD Officer Kaulike Kalama. The date has been set for memorial services of HPD officer Kaulike Kalama, who was killed in the line of duty in the Diamond Head tragedy. The family announced Kalama’s services are planned for March 7. It will be open to the public. Hawaii News Now.

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Hawaii accuses HPOWER of exceeding pollution limits and fines company nearly $20,000. The Hawaii Department of Health’s Clean Air Branch has fined HPOWER nearly $19,700 for exceeding the allotted amount of dissolved solids in the recirculation water it uses in its cooling towers. Star-Advertiser.

Pali Lanes faces another challenge: It’s been put on a month-to-month lease. The property lease between landowner Alexander & Baldwin and Pali Lanes will change to month-to-month on Feb. 2. Hawaii News Now.

A&B says it still wants bowling for Pali Lanes — for now. The head of Alexander &Baldwin Inc. said Thursday he remains hopeful Pali Lanes bowling center can stay in business but conceded he has his eye on a different type of development for the Kailua property if a viable business plan or bowling alley operator doesn’t materialize in the coming months. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Police discipline detailed: Five officers terminated in 2019 in unrelated cases. Five Hawaii Police Department officers were terminated in 2019 and seven were suspended for disciplinary reasons, a department official said Thursday. Tribune-Herald.

Big Island Lawmakers Weigh In On Joint Economic Package. Big Island state representatives are promoting affordable housing, expanded child care, and tax relief as part of the legislative package of bills introduced this session to reduce income inequality. Big Island Video News.

Maui

Lahaina Front Street Improvement Project Community Meeting, Feb. 13. County officials say wave action and saltwater spray have deteriorated street elements on the makai side of Front Street in two locations: between Dickenson Street and Lahainaluna Road and between Papalaua and Baker streets. Maui Now.

Former House candidate is sentenced to 5 years in prison. Chayne Marten pleads no contest to endangering a minor in 2016 sexual abuse case. Maui News.

Biolab, built on Maui, headed to the space station. HNu Mobile SpaceLab set to blast off Feb. 9. Maui News.

Kauai

CBS News reports that a Federal Aviation employee is blowing the whistle on a lack of critical inspections. CBS said the whistleblower, Joseph Monfort, said he was prevented from inspecting the tour helicopter that crashed on Kauai back in December, killing all seven people on board. Hawaii News Now.

Property tax bill fails. The Kauai County Council on Wednesday killed a proposal to increase property taxes for around 200 Kauai residents with rental properties. Garden Island.

County backs Hawaiian homesteaders. The County Council on Wednesday passed unanimously a resolution to urge the state Legislature to fix defects in laws that govern the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands that have led to stubbornly high mortgage delinquency and foreclosure rates among Native Hawaiians living on DHHL lands. Garden Island.

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Officials Confirm 9th Case Of Rat Lungworm Disease. An adult resident of Kauai is believed to have caught the parasitic disease during a December trip to the Big Island, making the individual the sixth Hawaii resident to fall ill. Civil Beat.

DOH Confirms Ninth Case of Rat Lungworm. The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) verified the presence of angiostrongyliasis, or rat lungworm disease, in an adult on the island of Kaua‘i. Big Island Now.

New case of rat lungworm disease confirmed in Hawaii. On Thursday, the Department of Health said the disease was found in a Kauai resident. Hawaii News Now.